MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A senior from South Florida was tricked into a tech support scam that cost her nearly $100,000. However, an undercover operation led to the arrest of Rushabh Anilbha Patel, 28, of Melbourne, Florida.
The scam began on February 3 when the victim received a text message claiming she needed to call Apple Support about unknown charges on her account. During the phone conversations with the scammers, the victim was falsely told that child pornography had been found on her computer. Fearing for her safety, she followed their instructions and began sending money.
According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO), the victim wired $35,000 via transfer and withdrew another $64,000 in cash from her bank accounts. The money was then placed in boxes and picked up by individuals at her residence on two occasions.
MDSO investigators became aware of the situation by Monday, and the following day, the scammers contacted the victim again, demanding an additional $75,000. They instructed her to claim that she couldn’t make a wire transfer but had $30,000 in cash. The victim was told a courier would arrive to collect the money.
On Thursday, detectives executed an undercover sting. They had prepared a box containing bundles of fake cash, with three real $100 bills on top. Patel, driving a silver Toyota Corolla, arrived to pick up the money and was arrested.
Patel now faces charges of first-degree theft from an elderly person, organized scheme to defraud, and unlawful use of a communications device. Investigators have not yet identified other suspects involved in the nearly $99,000 scam.
